“I am organizing an Easter Egg Hunt for the neighborhood today and I wanted to know if your children will be coming?” said the confident voice on the other end of the phone. With a smile on my face I told Megan that absolutely Rory and Ce’Anna would participate. I was told to bring nothing but the children and to be there at one o’clock.
When the clock chimed one the kids and I set out with plastic bags stuffed in my pockets for their treasures. When we arrived at Megan’s house I saw all the other neighbor kids lined up with their parents anxiously dancing around. Some kids had baskets in hand and others had nothing in which to put their treats.
I wondered what the poor children without bags would do with their treats. Their little hands could only hold so many.
But no fear, see Megan was prepared with plastic bags for each child. She also had simple rules that everyone was to follow: if you find an egg, it is yours; leave the easy ones for the little ones; and there are 50 eggs hidden.
The kids charged all over and when all eggs were found, Megan gathered everyone around her while she gave each child a special bag with a small treat or gift inside. With wide happy grins the children set out for home.
At 11 years old Megan has begun to master what it means to be a leader. I watched both kids and adults listen to her directions and follow her orders to a “t”.
You see good leaders are not born; they are created. It starts at a young age and develops. I think the challenge today is “what kind of leaders are we developing?”
Five traits of a good leader include:
1.Taking control of a situation
2.Creating events rather than waiting for them to happen
3.No fear or boundaries they are not willing to cross
4.Thinking of all consequences and preparing for them
5.Strongly asking or positively telling versus apologetically questioning
Megan exhibited all of these traits at her tender age yet I see some adults struggle with this well in to their forties and fifties.
Do you exhibit all of those traits?
Remember leadership is NOT a position; it is a way of thinking. I have seen receptionist command more respect and leadership than some management. So take charge today and not only be a leader but develop leadership in your children for they are our future.
As the leading Outcome Strategist, Anne Warfield shows people how to present their ideas, products and services so people WANT to listen to you. Her communication formula is easy to apply and produces proven results. Fortune 500 companies around the world have utilized her expertise and her work is published around the world. She has been published in Business Week, Good Housekeeping, Forbes publications and has been featured on ABC, NBC and CBS. Anne speaks around the world about Outcome Focus™ Communication. To book Anne, contact her at 888-imp-9421 or check out her web site at www.ImpressionManagement.com. Check out her website to take the communication quiz for yourself! Books can be purchased from Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. You can also email us at contact@impressionmanangement.com